9 pipes found during fire aren't bombs, police say

ST. PETERSBURG - Nine pipes found during a house fire resembled bombs, but did not contain explosives, police said Friday.

The Tampa Bomb Squad used two robots to remove the pipes from a garage apartment behind 1510 22nd Ave. S.

The pipes, 8 to 10 inches long and 11/2 inches in diameter, were found at 5 a.m. when St. Petersburg firefighters responded to the residence for a fire, said Bill Proffitt, St. Petersburg police spokesman.

During a search of the home, firefighters found the objects, which looked like pipe bombs, in a bedroom closet, he said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and the bomb squad was dispatched. Two 400-pound bomb squad robots removed the pipes. Police would not release the name of the resident being interviewed by officers.